Definitions

01. Advertising Structure(s) or Sign(s), or Advertising Display(s). Any outdoor structure, display, light device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard, or other thing which is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform. (7-1-25) 02. Bypassed Community Signs. A form of community official sign erected when a city has been bypassed, but remains within five (5) miles of an interstate highway or primary freeway. Such communities have the right to erect and maintain, at city expense, a billboard displaying the name of the city at a location not to exceed one (1) mile from an interchange primarily serving that city. (3-31-22) 03. Commercial or Industrial Activities. Those activities generally recognized as commercial or industrial by zoning authorities in this State, except that none of the following activities are considered commercial or industrial: (3-31-22) a. Agricultural, forestry, grazing, farming, and related activities, including but not limited to, wayside fresh produce stands. (3-31-22) b. Transient or temporary activities. (3-31-22) c. Activities not visible from the main traveled way. (3-31-22) d. Activities conducted in a building principally used as a residence. (3-31-22) e. Railroad tracks and minor sidings. (3-31-22) f. Outdoor advertising displays. (3-31-22) 04. Commercial or Industrial Zones. The provisions of Section 40-1911, Idaho Code, do not apply to those segments of the interstate and primary system of highways which traverse and abut on commercial, business, or industrial zones within the boundaries of incorporated municipalities, wherein the use of real property adjacent to and abutting on the interstate and primary system of highways is subject to municipal or county regulation or control, or which traverse and abut on other areas where the land use is clearly established by State law or county zoning regulation, as industrial, business, or commercial, or which are located within areas adjacent to the interstate and primary system of highways which are in unzoned commercial or industrial areas as determined by the Department from actual land uses; provided, however, that the Department will determine the size, lighting, and spacing of signs in such zoned and unzoned industrial, business, or commercial areas. For the purpose of this rule, areas abutting interstate and primary highways of this State which are zoned commercial or industrial by counties and municipalities are be valid as commercial or industrial zones only as to the portions actually used for commerce or industrial purposes and the land along the highway in urban areas for a distance of six hundred (600) feet immediately abutting to the area of the use, and does not include areas so zoned in anticipation of such uses at some uncertain future date nor does it include areas so zoned for the primary purpose of allowing advertising structures. (3-31-22) 05. Community Official Signs. Signs approved by a city, erected within its territorial or zoning jurisdiction and maintained wholly at city expense. These signs will display only the name of the city and driver directional information. Specific advertising is not allowed. (3-31-22) 06. Customary Maintenance. Repainting the structure, trim, or sign face, changing poster paper, replacing existing electrical components after failure and replacing damaged structural parts. It does not include the installation of a new sign face nor the initial installation of lighting. Substantial replacement begins when repair and IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 39.03.60 – Rules Governing Outdoor Advertising, Idaho Transportation Department Accident Memorials, and Other Official Signs Section 010 Page 4 other costs exceed fifty percent (50%) of the sign’s reproduction cost. (3-31-22) 07. Directional Signs. Signs containing directional information about public places owned or operated by federal, state, or local governments or their agencies; publicly or privately owned natural phenomena, historic, cultural, scientific, educational and religious sites; and areas of natural scenic beauty or naturally suited for outdoor recreation, deemed to be in the interest of the traveling public. (3-31-22) 08. Erect. To construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, create, paint, draw, or in any other way bring into being or establish, but does not include any of the foregoing activities when performed incident to the change of an advertising message or customary maintenance of a sign. (3-31-22) 09. Freeway. A divided highway with four (4) or more lanes for through traffic and full control of access. (3-31-22) 10. Grandfather Sign. One which was lawfully in existence in a zoned or unzoned commercial or industrial area on the effective date of the State law and which may remain even though it may not comply with the size, lighting, or spacing criteria within this rule. This clause only allows an individual sign at its particular location for the duration of its normal life subject to customary maintenance. (3-31-22) 11. Illegal Sign. One which was erected and/or maintained in violation of State law. (3-31-22) 12. Main Traveled Way. The portion of a roadway for the movement of vehicles, exclusive of shoulders. (3-31-22) 13. Multiple Message Sign (MMS). A sign, display, or device that changes the message or image on the sign electronically by movement or rotation of panels or slats, or electronic billboards that have a programmable display of variable text or symbolic imagery. (3-31-22) 14. Nonconforming Sign. One which was lawfully erected, but does not comply with the provisions of State law or State regulation passed at a later date or which later fails to comply with State law or State regulation due to changed conditions. Illegally erected and/or maintained signs are not nonconforming signs. All signs located within an unzoned area are nonconforming if the commercial or industrial activity used in defining the area ceases for a continuous period of six (6) months. (3-31-22) 15. Official Signs and Notices. Signs and notices erected and maintained by public officers or public agencies within their territorial or zoning jurisdiction and pursuant to and in accordance with direction or authorization contained in federal, state, or local law for the purposes of carrying out an official duty or responsibility. Historical markers authorized by state law and erected by state or local government agencies or nonprofit historical societies may be considered official signs. (3-31-22) 16. Parkland. Any publicly owned land which is designated or used as a public park, recreation area, wildlife or water fowl refuge or historical site. (3-31-22) 17. Permit. A written approval by the department covering location, size, lighting, spacing, number and message content requirements of permissible directional signs. (3-31-22) 18. Public Service Signs. Signs located on school bus or other bus stop bench or shelter, which: (3-31-22) a. Identify the donor, sponsor, or contributor of said shelters; (3-31-22) b. Contain public service messages, which will occupy not less than fifty percent (50%) of the area of the sign; (7-1-25) c. Contain no other message; (3-31-22) d. Are located on school bus or other bench or shelter authorized or approved by city, county, or state IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 39.03.60 – Rules Governing Outdoor Advertising, Idaho Transportation Department Accident Memorials, and Other Official Signs Section 010 Page 5 law, regulation, or ordinance, and at places approved by the city, county, or state agency controlling the highway involved; and (3-31-22) e. May not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet in area. Not more than one (1) sign on each bench or shelter will face in any one (1) direction. (7-1-25) 19. Public Utility Signs. Warning signs, informational signs, notices, or markers which are customarily erected and maintained by publicly or privately owned public utilities, as essential to their operations. (3-31-22) 20. Regionally Known. The attraction or activity must be known statewide and in one (1) or more adjoining states. (3-31-22) 21. Rest Area. Any area of particular scenic beauty or historical significance as determined by the federal, state, or local officials having jurisdiction thereof, and includes interests in land which have been acquired for the restoration, preservation, and enhancement of scenic beauty. (3-31-22) 22. Service Club and Religious Notices. Signs and notices, whose erection is authorized by law, relating to meeting of nonprofit service clubs or charitable associations, or religious services, which do not exceed eight (8) square feet in area. (3-31-22) 23. Sign. An outdoor sign, light, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, billboard, or other thing which is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform, any part of the advertising or informative contents of which is visible from any place on the main traveled way of the interstate or primary highway. (3-31-22) 24. Sign Face. The overall dimensions or area of that portion or side of an individual sign structure that is designed, intended, and capable of displaying messages. It includes border and trim, but excludes the base or apron, supports and other structural members. (3-31-22) 25. Sign Structure. A construction including the sign face, base or apron, and other structural members. (3-31-22) 26. Territorial or Zoning Jurisdiction. The geographical area located outside of any city or county limits for a distance of three (3) miles. (3-31-22) 27. Transient or Temporary Activity. An activity is transient or temporary for the purposes of Chapter 19, Title 40, Idaho Code when: (3-31-22) a. The activity lacks any business or privilege license required by the city, county or state. (3-31-22) b. The activity on the property has not been conducted for at least six (6) months at the time of application for a sign permit. (3-31-22) c. The activity lacks utilities (water, power, telephone, etc.) and which are normally utilized by similar commercial activities. (3-31-22) d. The activity is not carried on in a permanent building designed, built or modified for its current commercial or industrial use, located within six hundred sixty (660) feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way. (3-31-22) e. The property upon which the activity is conducted lacks direct or indirect vehicular access or does not generate vehicular traffic. (3-31-22) f. The activity does not have employees on-site during normal business hours which is considered normal, usual, and customary. (3-31-22) IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE IDAPA 39.03.60 – Rules Governing Outdoor Advertising, Idaho Transportation Department Accident Memorials, and Other Official Signs Section 100 Page 6 g. The activity lacks a frequency of operations which are considered usual, normal and customary for that type of commercial or industrial operation and the activity is visible and recognizable as a commercial or industrial activity. (3-31-22) 28. Urban Areas. Any geographical area within the city limits of any incorporated city having a population of five thousand (5,000) or more inhabitants. Population numbers referred to in this Subsection will be determined by the latest United States census. (7-1-25) 011. -- 099. (RESERVED)